Wu Zuoren

Wu Zuoren was a traditional Chinese painter. A native of Jing County, Anhui, he was born in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province. He practiced both traditional Chinese ink painting and European oil painting.

Curriculum Vitae

*1908: Wu Zuoren is born in Suzhou, Jiangsu, China.

*1927: Wu Zuoren studies in the department of fine arts at Shanghai Art University where his ability is recognized by Xu Beihong. Later, he transfers to the department of fine arts at Nanguo Academy of Arts.

*1928: Wu Zuoren follows Xu Beihong to study at the National Central University .

*1930 - 1935: Wu Zuoren travels abroad to study in Europe. He returns to China in 1935.

*1939: Wu Zuoren's first wife, Li Na, a Belgian national, dies at an early age when they are at Central University, due to postpartum depression complicated by the bombardment of Chongqing by Japanese war planes.

*1949: With the establishement of the PROC, Wu Zuoren joins The Chinese Artists Association.

*1949-1953: Wu Zuoren becomes a professor and the first provost of China Central Academy of Fine Arts. He beomes the vice principal, principal, and finally, an honorary principal of that school.

*1953: Wu Zuoren is elected Vice-President of The Chinese Artists Association in 1953.

*1954: Wu Zuoren becomes a permanent member of the National People's Congress in 1954.

*1958: Wu Zuoren becomes The Director of the Central Academy of Beaux-Arts.

*1963: Wu Zuoren sets out to change the face of China when presented with the opportunity to design a three postage stamps for the PROC. Known for his ink paintings of yaks and camels in western China Wu Zuoren's ''Giant Panda'' stamps first issued in 1963 establish the Giant Panda as the emblem of the new China. A second series of six ''Giant Panda'' stamps by Wu Zouren was issued in 1973, and a more elaborate ''Giant Panda'' edition based on his ink paintings produced in 1985.


For the remainder of his life, Wu Zuoren remains a prominent member of the central committee of the China Democratic League, Chairman of the Chinese Artists Association, and a member of the standing committee of the National People's Congress. Wu Zuoren's second wife, Xiao Shufang, was an artist known for her flower paintings. Wu Zuoren founded and endowed "Wu Zuoren International Foundation of Fine Arts".


*1997: Wu Zuoren dies in Beijing.